During a news conference in Tokyo earlier this month, veteran Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Kozo Watanabe touched on the possibility of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama stepping down if his team fails to solve the relocation conundrum involving U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma by the end of May.
"If Hatoyama can't provide an answer, then it will lead to a change of government," the DPJ heavyweight said, adding half-jokingly that Finance Minister Naoto Kan is set to succeed the unpopular prime minister.
But his comments, which drew snickers from the crowd only weeks ago, are beginning to sound more prophetic as Hatoyama struggles to display leadership on key issues.